In 2017, Isaac’ s daughter and her husband, Heidi Wall and John Heide, took over, steering the company even further towards success and implementing new systems as businesses everywhere took a turn towards all things digital. From inventory control to marketing, the pair continues to prove that staying current after a solid start is a recipe for success.
Since its earliest beginnings 10 years ago, Red Barn Trailers has continued to bring great customer service to its patrons. Heidi Wall, Vice President, attributes the company’ s success partially to the companies the team works with, many of which the dealership’ s employees met at NATDA Trailer Shows throughout the years. The company’ s inventory management, website, marketing and finances are all done through companies found at the show.
“ We’ ve been coming to the show since our inception in 2013 – pretty much the entire lifespan of the company,” Wall mentioned.“ We’ ve found a lot of the companies we work with through NAT- DA. Just last year, we found our inventory management company, Everlogic, at the show. They have been very useful in simplifying things for us.”
In addition to dealership management services, Wall has recruited plenty of suppliers and manufacturers at the show. Her team prizes the ability to connect with potential trailer manufacturers and get a real, close-up look at trailers from around the country.
“ We like to connect in person and see what’ s new in the industry,” explained Wall.“ Companies will send updates in emails, but you don’ t think much about it until you see it in person. Before our first show, my father told us:‘ Let’ s see what we can learn’.”
According to Wall, NATDA’ s manufacturers are worth the trip. The vast majority of the dealership’ s trailers come from NATDA’ s member list, since the Red Barn Trailers team values the ability to see the models in person – and see who really supports the dealers.
“ If our manufacturers are NATDA members, it shows us they’ re serious and are reliable companies to work with,” said Wall.“ It’ s definitely something I look for in a business partner.”
In addition to careful partnership selection and quality manufacturer picks, Wall attributes her business’ success to its solid team. According to the Vice President, everyone she hires shares the same values and goes out of their way to help out.
“ We work as a team,” added Wall.“ Everyone has their role, but if someone is needed in trailer sales, our accountants will step in. Everybody knows how to hook up a trailer. We can all do a parts sale if it’ s needed. What we don’ t want is the customer standing around and waiting.”
When asked for advice to give to other dealers, Wall stresses the importance of staying organized and keeping your company’ s technology current. In fact, many of the companies her team has recruited were selected to do just that.
“ As I mentioned, we recently updated our inventory control system,” she maintained.“ With these types of things, organization is key. Customers can really feel it.”
From dealership management to customer service initiatives, Red Barn Trailers has stayed strong through the help of a great team and carefully chosen partnerships.
Who will the dealership pick to partner with next?
We’ ll just have to see in Nashville.
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22 NATDA Magazine www. natda. org